Alltel moves uptown

Jul. 2, 2013

The local Alltel office in Bucyrus has moved to a new location at 109 N. Sandusky Ave., which is part of the building that was hit last year by a semi. Anita Keene and Amber Spiegel are wireless specialists. / Dave Polcyn/Telegraph-Forum

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Telegraph-Forum

A fter six years in the East Pointe Shopping Center, Alltel has moved uptown.

The business opened its doors for the first time at the new location Saturday at 109 N. Sandusky Ave. It’s located in part of the building that was hit last year by a semi-truck. The building is owned by Jim Mayes.

District manager Jon Hottinger said Alltel is moving to be more convenient for the main portion of its customer base.

“Last month, over 100 of our customers were from Bucyrus,” Hottinger said. “We feel the new location will be much more convenient.”

The business sells cellphones, cellphone service for individuals, families and businesses, home phone service and Direct TV service along with Internet access.

Anita Keene is one of three employees at the store, along with Ashley Knecht and Amber Speigel.

“I like working with our customers and meeting new people,” Keene said.

Hottinger said hopes to hire more employees as the business grows. He wants his business more involved in the community.

“I think by moving to Sandusky Avenue, we will be more convenient for foot and bicycle traffic and will become more involved in community events such as the Bratwurst Festival, Mardis Gras and the Candlelight walks,” Hottinger said.

The Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony at their new location at 9:30 a.m. on July 10.

“It will bring more foot traffic to our downtown area,” said Deb Pinion, director of the Chamber of Commerce. “We need more retail business downtown.”

The building that Alltel has moved into is known as the Heckenauer Building and it predates the Civil War, with a construction date of 1857, according to the Ohio Preservation Office’s Ohio Historic Building Inventory.

The building sustained serious damage last July when Charles Conyer, 44, of Richmond, Ind., was heading north on North Sandusky Avenue and, according to Bucyrus police, fell asleep and drove into 105, 109 and 113 N. Sandusky Ave. on the main thoroughfare.

Part of the building front tumbled onto the semi after impact. Conyer escaped with minor injuries.

“Kudos to Jim Mayes for restoring the building and making it period-correct,” Pinion said.

Hottinger said many events are planned for next week at the store.

“We will be celebrating our new grand opening all that week, which will include Lifeline being here on July 11,” Hottinger said.

“They provide people with government assistance phones and service.”

Hottinger said on July 12 and 13, there will be cookouts and door prizes. The business is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays.